AFRACA Secretary General, Mr. Thomas Essel (left) with ALIDE Secretary Edgardo Alvarez (center) during ALIDE 54ème General Assembly Meeting in Fortaleza, Brazil

In a landmark decision at a meeting held alongside the ALIDE General Assembly in Fortaleza, Brazil, AFRACA was officially announced as the host of the 8th World Congress on Rural and Agricultural Finance in 2025.

During the assembly, Mr. Essel engaged in productive discussions with other heads of RACAs, highlighting AFRACA’s preparations for the 2025 World Congress. They emphasized the need for increased global consultations to ensure the event’s inclusivity and success.

In addition to these strategic discussions, Mr. Essel utilized the assembly as an opportunity to form strategic partnerships with key development organizations. Among the potential partners are the European Investment Bank, Climate Finance Initiative, Standard & Poor’s, and Afreximbank. The partnerships aim to enhance the congress’s impact, ensuring it serves as a comprehensive platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and policy development in rural and agricultural finance.

The ALIDE General Assembly itself was a vibrant event featuring a series of presentations and panel discussions. Key topics included risk management in the face of climate change, promoting inclusion and gender sensitivity in investments, and forging partnerships in developmental activities. The assembly encouraged institutions to prioritize risk management as a critical response to the effects of climate change and to integrate inclusive and gender-sensitive approaches in their investment strategies.

With the support of newly formed partnerships and the collective commitment of RACAs, AFRACA is well-positioned to host a successful and impactful World Congress in 2025. This event promises to be a milestone in the advancement of rural and agricultural finance, contributing to the broader goals of financial inclusion, sustainability, and economic development across the globe​.